IllustrationComicsAbout

The 37th Parallel

Written by:

Nick Volkert

About me:

Nick Volkert is a creative residing in Chicagoland with 20 years of experience working as an Illustrator, Designer, UX Designer and Front-End Developer.

Winter is here

Life living above the 37th parallel in January is hunker down season, for obvious reasons: it's cold out, the weather is spotty, the roads are unsafe, and bundling up to brave the elements is on a 'only if I have to' basis.

January 2nd, 2021

It's also a great time to work on new projects. Brew that cup of coffee, tea, hot cocoa and get to work.

The time has passed for me to advise you to start planning. In case you are reading this in the late Summer or the early Fall: that is when you start to map out ideas for an attack plan of your personal projects.

For me: I'm continuing working on art prints for my personal site, working on UI, icon and UX samples for a design centric portfolio, and I'm rendering comic ideas I've been jotting away on all year.

What are you working on? A new side hustle? An icon pack to sell? A new node package on npm? A logo for a new business? Hone those skills! Explore those ideas! During this time that most people are getting dull from inactivity, it's your time to get sharp.

Today is day one of a New Year. Time is ticking. Best make the best of the time you have right now because a few Netflix binges and late nights saving the world from bad guys and it's Spring again and time to get out of the house. That time isn't coming back.

So put that PS in sleep mode, and fire up that laptop. Time to get to work!

~Nick

Reading, it's for your eyeballs!

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Tips, tricks, work stories, short stories, and random musings.

Nick Volkert, Chicagoland illustrator and creative, lists his favorite artworks from his career so far.

“Happy Birthday to Me!”

Created: January 13th, 2025 | Role: Author

Check out a few of my favorite works since starting in the tee design game in the late 2000's.

Note book and drawing tools of a UX Designer.

“Tips for JR UX Designers”

Created: January 16th, 2021 | Role: Author

A few tips for JR UX Designers out there looking to gain more skills and be a more proficient UX Designer.

A sleepy bear hunkers down for the Winter.

“The 37th Parallel”

Created: January 2nd, 2021 | Role: Author

It's cold, miserable, the roads are dangerous, so it's time to get creative while you're huddled up in your warm home.

Blogs for eyeballs

Pen, Ink, and Cintiq!

Rendered Works

I love making personal works that I use as a vehicle to explore to constantly learn the programs I use on my day to day, and push my artistic abilities.

A log basks in the sun with donning a bandanna and a small chicken roots on its head.

“Farm Log”

Created: July 16th, 2025 | Role: Illustrator

Logs, and this is super surprising, can be country bumpkins enjoying the country air and sun! They also serve as amazing perches for the farm foul!

A werewolf chills at a pool party looking either slightly annoyed or trying his best to not go full werewolf attack on everyone.

“Pool Party Werewolf”

Created: July 16th, 2025 | Role: Illustrator

Who invited the freakin werewolf?! No matter the season, when the pool is a rockin’ and it happens to be a full moon, this werewolf is here to get down!

A jolly little lunchpail is happy to get back to playing little league baseball while being excited for a new school year and junior tackle football!

“Sporty Lunchpail Bot”

Created: July 14th, 2025 | Role: Illustrator

Sports are great! This little robot is excited to wrap up Little League baseball and hop right into Junior Tackle football and rock out some gridiron!

View Rendered Works

The season of ice, cold and snow is upon us!

Winter Series

A selection of designs about the coldest season that hopefully bring you warmth and joy!

A shark is beat up and missing teeth after a hockey game.

“The Goon Shark”

Created: December 10th, 2020 | Role: Illustrator

Fact: Goon sharks aren't afraid to lose some teeth (they grow back anyway).

An annoyed male cardinal wearing ear muff, a sweater and a scarf, while perched on a branch surrounded by snow.

“Annoyed IL Birds: The Cardinal”

Created: January, 2015 | Role: Illustrator

Just cause it's the state bird of Illinois, doesn't mean it isn't SO OVER winter and ready for warmer weather.

A grizzly bear is all tuckered out in a patch of grass while a red cardinal is perched on its back.

“Wore out Novembear”

Created: December 26th, 2024 | Role: Illustrator

Christmas is over, the holidays are nearly done, and this grizzly bear is all tuckered out and ready to hibernate yesterday, but still has to muscle through to New Years! If he can do it, you can too!

Time to get cozy